CR men GVC awards

BY ANDREW BUTLER

TIMES-STANDARD

The College of the Redwoods men's basketball team was rewarded kindly for its Golden Valley Conference championship winning season. The conference announced its postseason awards on Saturday.

Redwoods (21-5), 0-26 a year ago, completed its search for an outright conference championship on Wednesday with a 109-84 win over visiting Shasta College.

First-year head coach Ryan Bisio, the mastermind behind the Corsairs' worst-to-first season, earned GVC Coach of the Year for it.

Thomas Nelson delivered an MVP type performance, scoring 31 points in the title-clinching victory — and the conference took note.

Nelson was named conference MVP and was selected as a member of the all-state first-team.

Drew Gillette, Zac Claus and Donald Willis each were awarded GVC first-team nods.

"It's pretty unprecedented, getting the MVP and three on the first-team," Bisio said.

Bradley Willis garnered an Honorable Mention and an All-Defensive team selection.

Redwoods will learn its state playoff seed on Monday.